Hello Lovelies :) Hope you are well :) Was going to put this up on Friday but I had work all day :( And during the weekend, so I am putting this up today and then the next on Friday, I hope you enjoy! Lovely to read my first review, can't wait to read some more! Love you Kittens!
I cleared my throat and yanked my hand from Riana's grip, smoothing down my dress as I walked through the parted crowd of girls towards the stage. I caught eyes with Finnick as I walked up, helped along by some Peacekeepers, and he looked down at the floor. From where I was standing, I could see the tears in his eyes, and the look on his face. I looked away from him and down at the floor, before walking up the stairs to Fiora's grasping hand. "Come on dear" she said, and hoisted me up.
"And now, for the boys" she chimed through the microphone, and swirled her hand around in the boys bowl. She picked out a name and clattered over to the microphone again, peeling it open to reveal the name. She cleared her throat and called out the name "Luca Temple". I watched as a young boy around my age, slightly taller than me, walked up to the stage, his hands in fists at his side. "Let's all give a round of applause for this year's tributes" Fiora sung, and everyone clapped, mainly out of relief it wasn't them. I turned to face Luca and he stuck a hand out. I timidly took it and shook it, wincing a little as his grip tightened around my hand.
A peacekeeper led me into a room and slammed the door shut behind him, and I looked around in shock as I sat down on the black leather sofa. The door opened and Riana burst in, tears staining her cheeks and eyes puffy from crying. "Oh Annie" she sobbed, and pulled me in tightly. "You're coming home" she sobbed into my shoulder, and I nodded, unsure of what to do or say. "You can do this, Finnick will keep you alive" she said, in a more serious tone than before. She pulled away and looked into my eyes, holding my hands. "He'll protect you" she said, and I nodded. Her eyes fell on my necklace Finnick had given me earlier, and she hooked a finger underneath it, pressing her lips against it - a tradition amongst friends; a goodbye; a way of always being there with the other person.I smiled and held her close, trying to keep her with me as a peacekeeper pried her away from me. "Riana" I cried, and she was dragged out the room. I sat in the chair, my heart beating fast, and stared at the table leg in front of me.
"You can't go in there" I heard a deep voice say, and someone pushed another person into something, causing a crash. "I can do whatever I like" I heard Finnick say, and the door burst open for a second time. I continued looking at the table leg as Finnick walked over to me, and he knelt down in front of me. "I'm so sorry" he said after some silence, and I looked up at him. "It's not your fault, the Capitol did this" I said, and he shook his head, leaning it on my knee. I tangled my fingers in his soft hair as he sobbed into me, and he shook his head again. "No, this is my fault. I should have known they would do this Annie, I should have kept you safe" he said, looking up at me. "I don't know what you mean" I whispered, and he sighed. "They picked you because you mean something to me. I love you Annie. I love you, so much, and I will do everything in my power to make sure you come out of the arena alive" he said, resting his forehead against mine. "I love you too, Finn" I answered, and leant in, softly connecting my lips with his. "I'll see you on the train" he whispered, and I nodded.
He pushed away from the chair and left the room, leaving the door open to a happy looking Fiora. "Come, come" she said, and I stood up and walked over to her open arm. She leant it around my shoulders, and I caught eyes with Luca, giving him a curt nod as he smiled softly at me. "My two tributes, let us get to the train and head off to the Capitol!"Fiora said with too much enthusiasm, and Luca's hand reached behind her and grabbed mine, giving it a tight squeeze. I looked at him in shock, but he stared ahead, so I squeezed it back and held on tightly.
"Oh, hello" Fiora squealed as she saw someone she knew waiting at the train entrance, and left us to walk behind her. "Please don't let me fall" I whispered, and Luca squeezed my hand again in an answer, hooking his arm around mine as we walked through the crowds towards the train. I caught eyes with Riana and smiled, before I was ushered onto the train. I gasped as I actually took in what was around me – the luxuries that were for me for the 2 weeks until the arena. I had seen luxurious before, living with Finnick in his Victor's house, but this was something else.
The carpets were a deep blue colour, with gold swirls and rims, and tables made from dark brown wood which shimmered in the light. There were cake stands with all sorts of bite size delicacies, ranging from chocolates to cakes, to sandwiches and other savoury nibbles. There was a cabinet lined with glasses and decanters, all filled with different coloured liquids that looked strange to the water we drank at home. Luca pulled me over to the cabinet and we both dipped our finger in the blue liquid, giggling at each other's faces as we swallowed the disgusting drink.
"Now, we should get to the Capitol by the morning, so I suggest you find your rooms and freshen up before watching last year's games and having some dinner" Fiora said, strutting through the car with Finnick and another woman I noticed as Delphi Senoia. She won her games a few years before Finnick, by killing all of her allies in their sleep on the first night. The sight of her made me gulp, and Luca squeezed my hand again. I smiled at him and we walked through the sliding doors to the next car, which held our rooms, wary Finnick was following me.
I pressed a button and the door opened to a small room with a double bed, a vanity cabinet and a wardrobe stashed with clothes. I could see the ensuite bathroom through the room, and smiled. "Dibs" I said, and walked in, hearing Luca groan behind me. I giggled foolishly, and felt Finnick's presence behind me. I flicked through the clothes hanging in the wardrobe, and picked out a white high waisted ruffled skirt and a black sweetheart cropped top, laying them out on the bed. I caught eyes with Finnick and a tear fell down his cheek, rolling down and falling gently off his chin onto the floor, followed closely by two more.
I sighed and walked over to him, reaching up on my tiptoes, and kissed his tear away, resting my forehead against his cheek as he snaked his arms around my waist. "I'm going to have a shower, get ready for dinner" I said softly, and Finnick nodded, unwinding his arms from my waist and letting me totter up to the shower. I peeled off my dress and folded it up, resting it on the top of the toilet before Finnick walked in and sat down, pulling my dress down too and holding it tightly.
I stepped into the shower and turned it on, pressing buttons and giggling like a child as my body was covered in a variety of different soaps and smells. Once I had finished and was dried, I smelt like a rainbow of scents, and walked back into my room to get my clothes. I slid into my top and pulled my skirt on, letting it sit where my waist pinched in, and turned to Finnick who was resting on the door frame. "How do I look?" I asked, giving a twirl. "Beautiful, as always Kitten" he said softly, smiling.I grinned back at him, happy to hear him use my nickname he had given me so long ago. "Come on then, let's get this dinner over and done with" he groaned, and took a hold of my hand as we walked down the car into the dining room. I sat down next to Luca, Finnick the other side, Fiora in front of me and Delphi opposite.
"Well, I trust you have become accustomed with your rooms?" Fiora asked, and both Luca and I nodded. I looked down at the hot thick soup on the table in front of me, and watched in humour as Fiora delicately slurped hers up with her spoon, her pinky finger sticking out to the side. I caught eyes with Luca and we both picked up our bowls and bought them to our lips, chugging down the hot liquid. I snorted as I heard Fiora screech in disgust, and Finnick chuckled beside me, as well as Luca.
"Manners do not cost a penny" Fiora screeched, and I grinned at her as I placed my bowl back down on the table. "I trust you won't be doing that in the Capitol! Now look, I am all flustered and shouting. Excuse me while I go and compose myself!" she shouted, and flurried out of the room. The rest of us caught eyes and burst out laughing, even Delphi who had been quiet all evening. "I think it's time we called it a night" Finnick said, and we all agreed and headed off to our rooms to catch up on our sleep.
I walked to my room with Finnick just behind me, feeling extremely tired and in need of a cuddle. "Come on, let's get you to bed" Finnick said softly, and gently pushed me into my room. I stood around awkwardly as he walked over to a dresser and pulled out some strange looking clothes, which I soon realised to be pyjamas. "I uh... I can't wear that..." I said in disgust, and Finnick looked down at it confused. "Why not?" he asked and I giggled at his face. "It's hideous! What happens if the train breaks down and we have to leave it, I'm not being seen in that?!" I said, and Finnick chuckled at me. "Alright then" he said, and rootled around for something else.
I took off my cropped top and skirt and placed them in a basket at the end of the bed, and felt something wrap around my shoulders. I turned my head slightly and Finnick was resting his hands on my shoulders, his shirt resting around them as he cuddled into my neck. "Thanks" I whispered, and pulled his shirt on, giggling as it fell like a dress around my thighs. I let out a squeal and another giggle and Finnick swiped my legs from underneath me and tucked me under the duvet, a smile creeping on his face.
"Night Annie" he whispered, pressing his lips against mine. He turned to leave, and I sat up in bed to stop him. "Finn... Will you stay with me?" I asked in the darkness, and he stopped moving for a while. "Always, Kitten" he said, and scooched me over, cuddling into the bed next to me. I snuggled into his chest as his arms protectively encased my body, and he cuddled his head down into mine as I drifted off to sleep.